Suzy B Software 2/Suzy B Software CD-ROM 2 (1994).iso/christin/gosplads/scr_a.txt

Text File | 1995-05-02 | 15KB | 378 lines

SCRAPS, A COLLECTION OF SHORT GOSPEL TEXTS
     BY CLYDE C. PRICE, JR.
     (C)1989,1990 Clyde C. Price, Jr.

     Permission is granted to reprint these articles
individually and/or serially, with rights reserved for the
collection.  Free and wide dissemination of this electronic
edition is urged and appreciated.  If you reprint several
of these articles for your church, I ask you, what kind of
honorarium would you give to a Sunday morning guest
preacher?  If you send no honorarium, I won't fuss.  Let's
get the Word out!

          INTRODUCTION TO "SCRAPS"

     My former home church, the Word of Life Fellowship of
East Point, GA, wanted to run some newspaper ads, and the
elders invited me to write some short articles for them.
I wrote and submitted a few, and I kept writing.  Most of
them start with one verse of Scripture which I try to
explain and apply to a mixed audience of Christians and
non-Christians in an evangelistic way.

     I called this collection "Scraps," because the first
drafts were literally written on scraps of paper salvaged
from a print shop, probably some time in the winter of
1984-85.  I vividly remember writing by hand, sitting in my
very drafty hall in my cold house in Grant Park (a part of
Atlanta for poor folks and house-restoring yuppies).

     I think some of them may have been run for our church,
but I don't have clippings on most of these.  A few are
first person or regional, and I left the W.O.L.F. church
name in some of them.  Feel free to edit in your own church
name for any articles you wish to use.  The "first-person"
stuff may not go well for a paid advertisement or tract,
but could be a newsletter feature.

     As in any collection, some are better than others.
Some of these are particularly feisty.  You may or may not
choose to be so confrontive, but I really encourage you to
avoid compromising basic doctrines of the faith.  Raise up
a standard of belief in the inspired and inerrant
Scriptures and in the King revealed in them.  If you use
this material, I think that  "--Clyde Price"   at the
end fits in with the principle of accountability.

     There is no outline or order to this collection.
These were just things I wanted to write about "bragging in
the Lord" on behalf of my home church.  I hope that you
will enjoy them.  I pray that God will use them for the
upbuilding of His Kingdom.

     I gave several suggestions for use of local media in
my other collections, "Arrows for your Quiver" and "Short
Shots".  Most of these would "work" as newsletter features.
I think over half would be good paid ads.  Several would
make good leaflet-style tracts, I think.

     In "Arrows" and "Shots" I deliberately avoided
denominationally distinctive doctrinal issues.  These were
written with my home church in mind, and so would not fit
all evangelical or Reformed churches.  Please don't get so
bent out of shape on some issue that you quit reading.  I
won't be offended a bit if I find out that anti-charismatic
dispensationalists or postmillineal theonomists are using
some of my articles and not others.  I'll be pleased to be
of service to my brethren.

     I believe in the authority of the Scriptures, that
Jesus is Lord over every area of life, that the "gifts of
the Spirit" are included in the blessings and equipment of
the New Covenant, and that while Christians are responsible
to preach the gospel to all people, that it is God Himself
who has to save people.  May all the glory go to Him!  I
preach and teach the Bible in the pulpit, to children, when
I write, and in my counseling and daily conversations.  I'm
a BIBLE person, and I love other BIBLE people and churches,
even those who disagree with me on non-central details of
doctrine.

     If you disagree with me at some point, I pray that
you'll follow the example of the wise old preacher, who
said, "I eats de fish, and I spits out de bones."

     I love to preach.  I've worked a long time with
children and small groups of adults, and I find when I
listen to my own tapes that I'm not as hard-hitting or as
fast-talking as the preachers I admire.  At least, I'm very
careful that my content is Biblical and my personal
opinions are (usually) labeled as such.  If you prefer a
laid-back non-jumping non-screamer, you'd probably like me.

     If you like what you read, maybe you'd like to hear me
preach.  Call me and ask me about dates, distances and
expenses, etc.

     I'm eager to share God's Word in any media available
to me, and to be your servant as you seek to win and build
people for Jesus. I am
                         His,
                         Clyde C. Price, Jr.
[phone]
   CIS# 76616,3452
P.O.Box 667
Red Oak, GA 30272-0667 USA

I'm trying to develop ways to share this material over
electronic media, especially online services such as BBSs
or the big guys such as Compuserve.  If you have a personal
computer, this would save retyping and allow you to print
out in a variety of formats.
                    Spring 1989  ccp

SCRAPS: Introduction
1    A New Creation Race
2    Provision for Abundant Life
3    Good Stuff
4    The Problem of Sin
5    License to Sin
6    Self-Image
7    Whose Slave Are You?
8    Free Gift
9    Does God Really Love You?
10   What About Those Hypocrites?
11   Our Response To Grace
12   It's Better to Be A Winner
13   The Direction of Your Life
14   Attention: All Seekers
15   Vending Machine
16   Can Atheists Speak of Sin?
17   Of Pearls and Pigs
18   The Transformers
19   Ever Feel Rejected?
20   Your Priority-Record
21   Face Value Speech
22   Religious Folk
23   Are You A Follower of Jesus?
24   A Craving Satisfied
25   Stay Away!
26   Where Are You Headed?
27   Comparison-Shopping For a Church?
28   In a Squeeze?
29   That's My Second Lock
30   Cutting a Plainer Path
31   Bug One Another
32   $ Money $ Money $ Money $
33   Sex--Sex--Sex
34   Beware of Religious Liars
35   Beware of Religious Fakes
36   The Believer's Bar of Soap
37   Prayer for the Sick
38  Our Society Is Being Invaded
       By An Extra-Planetary Power
39   Controversial Claims
40   "I Will Return"--Jesus
+    StampIt
+    "To My Kids"
afterword



          A "NEW CREATION" RACE

     Some people who call themselves Christians refuse to
go to church with Christians of another race.

     The Bible says, "If someone says, 'I love God,' and
hates his brother, he is a LIAR; for the one who does not
love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he
has not seen."  (I John 4:20 NAS)

     If you hate (reject) Christians of another race, you
yourself are NOT SAVED; you are a FAKE, a plastic believer,
a LIAR.

     "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature (OR
there is a new creation);  the old things passed away;
behold, new things have come." (II Corinthians 5:17)  Jesus
People participate in a NEW CREATION "in which there is NO
DISTINCTION between Greek and Jew, circumcised and
uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but
Christ is all, and in all." (Colossians 3:11)  Read the
letter to the Colossians for yourself.

     When we receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, we
don't expect our skin color, hair texture or eye slant to
change, but we do become members of a Forever Family of
brothers and sisters with a LOT of variety.
                                   [Clyde Price--Scraps01]




          PROVISION FOR ABUNDANT LIFE

     Some people are afraid to become Christians because
they are afraid that they're not strong enough to put wrong
things out of their lives and replace them with right
things.

     God has already made provisions for you.
     "Through these he has given us his very great and
precious promises, so that through them you may participate
in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world
caused by evil desires."  (II Peter 1:4 NIV)  Read the
letters of Peter for yourself, near the end of the New
Testament.

     God has given many, many promises in Scripture which
cover every legitimate need that we have living in this
world.  Sometimes we need help to identify these areas of
need and match them with the provisions in the Word.

     Part of God's provisions for us are found in the
family of believers, and the various ministries of the
church, including the ministries of teacher and pastor.
Everything God has for us is given to us "in Christ", no
matter what channels He uses to get it to us.

     When we are in the covenant relationship with God
through faith in Jesus Christ, we have the RESPONSIBILITY
to TAKE those "great and precious promises" and EXERCISE
them to the benefit of ourselves, our families, the church
of Jesus Christ, and the world in general.

     The most important provision God has made for you is
forgiveness of all your sin and the gift of abundant
eternal life.  The Lord Jesus died on the cross for all
sinners who would put their trust in Him, and He rose
victoriously from the grave to call you into His Life.

     Whether you had known it, or believe it, or not, YOU
HAVE BEEN PROVIDED FOR.  Put your trust in Jesus.
                                   [Clyde Price--Scraps02]

     "For God so loved the world, that He gave His
only-begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not
perish, but have eternal life."  (John 3:16 NAS)





               GOOD STUFF

     Do you feel that you are interested in the things of
God, and yet are drawn by the attractive things in "the
world" that you know are contrary to God's will?

     The Lord Jesus said, "I came that they [My 'sheep', My
people] might have life, and have it abundantly." (John
10:10)

     God is the one who designed us.  The Bible is much
more than a Manufacturer's Handbook, but it is AT LEAST
that.  God knows how He intended human beings to function
in the world which He created for them.  The things He
prohibits and commands are for our good, and we can find
life, meaning, purpose, and fulfillment ultimately ONLY in
Him.

     Read the Gospel of John and the Gospel of Matthew for
yourself, and ask God to show you directly if this is the
Truth.  As you read, you will find that God provides
forgiveness, freedom, dignity and abundant life for all who
put their trust in the Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth.

     The Psalmist said, "I have no good thing besides Thee"
(Ps 16:2), in other words,  "I have no good thing apart
from You."

     This is also true in your case, whether you believe it
or not.  Put your trust in Jesus.
                                   [CLYDE PRICE--SCRAPS03]





          THE PROBLEM OF SIN

     Adam blew it. Adam and Eve committed a crime for which
the penalty was physical and spiritual death..

     Because of the disobedience of Adam and Eve, they
experienced SEPARATION from God.  All their descendants
have been born into a STATE of separation, and we all have
an inherited tendency to sin.

     "Sin entered the world through one man, and death
through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because
all sinned" (Romans 5:12 NIV).

     Sin became universal in every member of the human race
except the Lord Jesus Christ, who was born of a virgin, and
who is called "the Second Adam". (See Romans 5:12-21.)

     Because we inherit a sin NATURE, we commit ACTS of
sin.  We sin because we ARE sinners, not vice versa.  It is
human nature to sin.

     If you wish to reflect on the strangeness of our
twisted nature, read C.S.Lewis' books, OUT OF THE SILENT
PLANET, and PERELANDRA.  By means of a fictional setting,
he magnifies the absurdity of typical sinful human nature.

     As Paul explains in the book of ROMANS in the New
Testament (read it for yourself), the problem of sin is met
in the person and work of Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of
God, the Messiah of Israel, the Crucified and Risen Lord.

     The "first" Adam sinned, and brought death to all his
descendants. The "second Adam", Jesus Christ, obeyed the
Father, even to death on the cross, and brought life to all
of His people when He arose in victory from the dead.

     The Lord Jesus gave Himself as the atoning sacrifice
for sin so that all of Adam's descendants who trust in Him
will be freed, forgiven, cleansed, made alive with eternal
life, and given a new purpose, power and peace.  This means
YOU, TOO.

     Don't stay polluted. Come clean from the inside out.
Put your trust in Jesus.
                                    [CLYDE PRICE--SCRAPS04]





          LICENSE TO SIN

     Some folks think, "Oh, God loves to forgive sinners!
That's what Christ died for!  So I'll just go on and sin
some more, because God will forgive me anyway."  Sometimes
this may involve a ritual of "confession" or "penance" or
some other religious activity, but this form of "cheap
grace" or "sloppy agap'e" is an abomination to God.

     The apostle Paul addresses people who see Christianity
as a "sin now, 'fess  later" plan:
     "What shall we say then?  Shall we go on sinning so
that grace may increase?  By no means!  We died to sin; how
can we live in it any longer?"  (Romans 6:1-2 NIV)

     Waft the rich aromas of an expertly cooked feast under
the nostrils of a dead man.  Is he tempted to gluttony?  If
you tell him a slimy joke, or show him a skin flick, he's
unaffected.

     The problem of a genuine believer who slips into sin
is addressed in I John 1:7-2:2.  The main point to the
passage above is that those who put their trust in Christ
have DIED to sin.  They therefore have NO FURTHER BUSINESS
sinning.

     Grace is not a James-Bond-type "license to kill" or
indulge in any other violation of God's will.  God's grace
provides believers in Jesus Christ forgiveness from the
guilt of sin and freedom from its power.  A Christian is
"dead" to sin, and free NOT to sin.

     Read the book of Romans for yourself.  Chapters 1-8
are God's plan of salvation, by grace through faith in the
crucified and risen Messiah.  Chapters 9-11 apply this to
the special case of Israel, same way for them.  Chapters
12-16 apply the spiritual teaching to the nitty-gritty
details of living in the world.

     Please DO NOT walk up to your spouse and say, "You
look like you're dead."

     We encourage you to find new life and power through
faith in Jesus Christ, and freedom in Him from the power of
sin.  Put your trust in Jesus.   [CLYDE PRICE--SCRAPS05]